29 QUEENSLAND PROJECTS BENEFIT FROM FEDERAL FUNDING

Drought-affected regional communities across North and North Western Queensland will benefit from new local infrastructure and community projects as part of a $207 million investment under Round 4 of the Federal Liberal and Nationals Government’s highly successful Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF).

Townsville-based Senator, Susan McDonald, congratulated the towns in her home region to benefit, including Charters Towers, Mt Isa, Winton, Longreach and Mareeba.

“There are some quite significant amounts of money being granted in this round, including more than $6 million for recycling efforts in Mt Isa, more than $900,000 for the Charters Towers Jockey Club and over $700,000 for cattle spelling paddocks near Longreach,” she said.

“Importantly, this money is going to projects with real community benefits such as Chillagoe getting a new reservoir.

“Near Winton, the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum is being connected to town water which will help them expand and draw more tourists to the Outback, not just to see the dinosaur exhibit but also to see faraway constellations free of light pollution in one of the world’s few Dark Sky Sanctuaries.

“The horrors of living through drought are hard to explain to those who’ve never done it, but the Morrison Government understands and has responded.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said this funding injection comes at a critical time for drought-affected communities.

“Many regional Australians are experiencing the worst drought in living memory – some dealing with this stress for more than a decade,” Mr McCormack said.

“These projects will go a long way towards building confidence and creating jobs and local procurement in areas that need it most.”

For a full list of successful projects, visit www.business.gov.au/bbrf.